Sanding-box



(No Model.)

T; DOWDV SANDING Box.-

No. 558,047. 4 Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS DOW'D, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

SANDING- -BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,047, dated April 14, 1896..

Application filed. February 5,1895. Serial No. 537,423. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS DOWD, resid ing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain useful Improvements in Sand-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to a new and novel improvement in sand-boxes more particularly adapted to be used in connection with street-railway cars, the object being to provide a sand-box embodying a means whereby lumpy as well as dry sifted sand can be fed to the track and wheels.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a broken end view of a car, showing my sand-box as attached. Fig. 2 shows a detached central sectional view of a sandbox embodying my invention, while Fig. 3 discloses the position of the lower valve-shield and also the agitating-bars.

A represents a suitable vessel or reservoir, of any suitable size and material, which is preferably pointed below and provided with abottom 0, having a feed or valve opening 2. This bottom forms partof the reservoir proper. Secured to this reservoir upon two or more sides are the triangular bars e, secured to the outside of the reservoir.

Extending through'the opening within the bottom 0 is an operating-bar E, preferably of metal, which is held above within the top of the reservoir and is provided with an operating-handle B. Below this bar E is provided with a valve-shield 3, of any suitable material, which is secured to this bar E by any suitable means and is adapted to work below and ride against the bottom 0, as is shown in Fig. 2. This valve-shield is snugly held against the bottom 0 by means of the spring 13, which is preferably secured to the bar E, being positioned between the handle B and the top of the reservoir A, as shown. This bar is permitted a radial movement between the top and bottom of the reservoir, and is further provide d with a number of outwardlyextending agitating-bars 5, which are adapted to work between the sand and keep it from packing. This is an essential feature, in that the sand usually supplied to the cars is seldom perfectly dry and in Winter is apt to lump and become packed by virtue of the freezing temperature. By means of my sand-box, however, this is prevented, in that the operator in feeding is supposed to smartly strike the top of the handle B, so as to force it down, which movement, at the same time that it opens the feed-valve 2, will force the agitating-bars 5 through the sand to break the lumps and keep the same from packing. At the same time the bars 5 can be radially moved so as to further agitate the sand. Surrounding the lower end of the reservoir A is a de tachable spout D, preferably of metal, and conforming to the shape of the lower end of this reservoir A. This spout is provided with two or more spring-catches a, which are adapted to ride over the triangular bars 6 and so removably secure the spout to the bottom of the reservoir. Below this spout is reduced so as to form a nozzle over which the ordinary conducting-pipe F is forced, which pipe is carried at its lower end in front of the carwheels. By this arrangement the sand box or reservoir A can be instantly detached from the car by virtue of the springcatches a. This pipe F is of course intended to form a fixture of the car.

Now, having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is

In a sand-box the combination of a suitable reservoir, said reservoir being provided below with a bottom having a valve-opening, an operating-bar extending through said reservoir and passing through the bottom thereof, a valve-shield secured to the bar below the bottom of said reservoir an operatinghandleat the upper end of said bar, aspring to support the same, a series of agitating-bars extending transversely from said main bar, said operating-bar being permitted a radial as well as a movement in a vertical plane, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnessesl THOMAS DOVVD. \Vitnesses:

CHARLES L. THOMAS, L. D. ERION. 

